A friend of ours recently informed us that we should be using a dedicated "vagina wash" that's specially pH-balanced. Because, apparently, those exist. (Vagisil and SummersEve both have 'em in their product lines.) And, allegedly, our hoo-has are supposed to have a certain pH.

The vag should have a pH (or acidity level) of 3.5-4.5, which means there is enough lactobacilli, as in good vagina bacteria, and no overgrowth of bad bacteria that can cause odor, irritation, or even bacterial vaginosis (which is actually the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge).

"The vagina is generally well balanced and doesn't need to have any washes or medication to keep that balance," she says. "Vaginal secretions tend to be more acidic and this is a normal part of its physiology." In other words, our vaginas are self-cleaning little miracles of nature!

That being said, Pick notes that medicated washes may be needed if you have an infection, but such treatment would be prescribed by a doctor if you noticed something was seriously up down there. The over-the-counter stuff is really not needed to keep things fresh and healthy down below.

So, while using one of these special washes won't necessarily hurt anything, unless they're filled with perfumes and dyes, staying clean with good ol' soap and water is A-okay.